FIFA Goal Project Update - Pago Park

The American Samoa Football Association (ASFA) is pleased to announce that following a visit from FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner and Goal Project manager, Ray Vuksich of V&B NZ Ltd a completion date 31st May 2007 has been set for the Pago Park project completion and handing over to ASFA.

The American Samoa Football Association will then relocate the administration and technical activities from their temporary leased office in Tefuna during June 2007 with the official inuguration ceremony expected to be confirmed for mid-July 2007.

Football activities at the magnificent facilities will commence from July 2007, firstly for the Youth Summer League then followed by the National League club competition for both men's and women's teams.

A FIFA Member Association course for club administration and management will also be the inaugural course held in the education centre of the National Headquarters & Technical Centre with news of the course and club participants to be announced very soon.

FIFA Development Officer Glenn Turner is very pleased with the development that when completed will boast a magnificent international standard natural turf playing field (the first-ever dedicated football field in the country) established in the magnificent environs of the hrbour with the spectacular mountainside backdrop.

"Following construction, the benefits of the realized facility to the sport will be significant that will allow optimum participation for boys and girls, men and women, also increased competition opportunities at all levels, educational courses that should hopefully be the catalyst to assist in taking national teams to a competitive level in the Oceania region," said Turner.

The FIFA Goal programme is an initiative by the FIFA president, Joesph S. Blatter launched in 1999 to assist member associations around the world to construct their very own "House of Football" and technical facilities for the development and continued progress of football activities.Already more than 200 projects are completed in over 170 countries throughout the globe.

This exciting and important project for the American Samoa Football Association is being co-financed by FIFA, OFC and ASFA. Phase 2 is already under consideration with the proposal to renovate the existing and landmark grandstand, extend the technical centre to include accommodation for players and coaches and possibly to include floodlighting, Futsal and Beach Soccer playing facilities.

The beautification of the Pago park environs is also underway with the Land Grant Corporation assisting significantly by working in partnership with ASFA personnel to create a venue for all to be proud.

ASFA Chairperson Ms Pou Supapo is also delighted and expressed her sincere thanks when commenting, "we (ASFA) would like to extend the sincere appreciation of our association to the Governor and his department for the willingness and efforts to support football, its development, education and well-being of the youth of American Samoa. Additionally we thank the numerous government agencies, Paramount Chief Maugaand Pago Pago Faipule, Fiasili Haleck, whose cooperation and assistance has been invaluable.Of course we our most appreciative to FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation and especially to the respective presidents Blatter and Temarii for their special interest and continued support to the development of football".

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